The greatest lie of the 20th century is that Greed & Capitalism are inherently synonomous. 

 

Greed: intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.

Capitalism: The private ownership of the means of production.

 

Thanks to our public education system we have successfully demonized the word PROFIT.  We have cast entrepeneurs and for profit entities as Demons out to feed on the souls of consumers usr their ATM cards as conduits.  Anyone who knows the history of not only this country but the world knows that this couldn't be any further from the truth. 

 

Greed, is a potentially universal construct.  The owner of a company may be greedy, just like a central regulator or minister of industry can be greedy in a socialist or communist economic system.  As Adam Smith put it plainly, we don't allow the butcher to own his own shop and make his own way because we rely on his good nature.  We rely on his self interest.  If a butcher doesn't provide quality product to his clientell then they will go to the buthcer accross the street.  If a consumer decides that there is a lack of options in his or her market, THEY CAN DECIDE to become a butcher, cook, delivery person, construction worker, etc. etc. etc.  The point is not to allow a few to monopolize the means of production for their own use, but to provide a means of escape and oppurtunity for all consumers and potential entrepeneurs. 

 

Consider the alternative.  If all of a sudden we had a NATIONAL BUTCHERY what incentive would that government sponsored chain have to innovate, grow, and provide better service for the customer?  Just look at government services.  What alternative tax collection agency do you have to the IRS if they don't answer a question fast enough.  IF you don't like a ruling that the EPA made what's the alternative agency that you can have regulate your waterway or your job site? 

 

In Russia, Venezuala, etc. you have countries with inordinate levels of poverty for the average citizen despite in some cases INORDINATE natural resources.  Centrally planned monopolistic economies don't provide post racial egalitarian utopias.  More often they provide shortages of goods services and capital to all except an elite oligarchy that puts on the Jay-z concerts. 

---